Optimized conformal-to-meter antennas

Abstract

A dual-dipole, multi-band conformal antenna for facilitating optimized wireless communications of a utility meter. The antenna includes an antenna backing, the backing adapted to conform to an inside surface of a utility meter and an antenna trace affixed to the antenna backing. The antenna trace is made of a conductive material and includes a symmetric low-band portion and an asymmetric high-band portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of optimizing performance of an asymmetrical conformal antenna in a utility meter having a meter housing and distributed electrical components, including:
 vertically positioning the antenna including a low-band portion with left and right low-band arms and a high-band portion having left and right high-band arms inside the utility meter having the meter housing and the distributed electrical components forming a high component density area and a low component density area, such that at least a portion of the low-band portion is located above a plane formed by a top surface of the meter housing, and a portion of the high-band portion is located below the plane and adjacent the distributed electrical components, the left low-band arm being substantially the same as the right low-band arm such that the low-band portion is substantially symmetrical about a central axis of an antenna trace, and the high-band portion having a left high-band arm having a left length and a right high-band arm having a right length, the left high-band arm and the right high-band arm being asymmetrical about the central axis of the antenna trace such that the right length of the right high-band arm is not substantially equal to the left length of the left high-band arm, and wherein a left-side conductive area of the antenna trace is substantially equal to a right-side conductive area of the antenna trace; 
 radially positioning the antenna about the meter housing and electrical components such that the left high-band arm is adjacent the low electrical component density area and the right high-band arm is adjacent the high electrical component density area; and 
 causing the antenna to radiate the energy at either a low-band frequency or a high-band frequency. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein vertically positioning the antenna further includes positioning the antenna such that the portion of the low-band portion located above the plane comprises the entire low-band portion. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plane formed by the top surface of the meter housing is above the distributed electrical components. 
     
     
       4. A method of optimizing performance of an asymmetrical conformal antenna in a utility meter having a meter housing and distributed electrical components, including:
 vertically positioning the antenna including a low-band portion with left and right low-band arms and a high-band portion having left and right high-band arms inside the utility meter having the meter housing and the distributed electrical components forming a high component density area and a low component density area, such that at least a portion of the low-band portion is located above a plane above the distributed electrical components, and a portion of the high-band portion is located below the plane and adjacent the distributed electrical components; and 
 causing the antenna to radiate the energy at either a low-band frequency or a high-band frequency, 
 wherein the left low-band arm is substantially the same as the right low-band arm such that the low-band portion is substantially symmetrical about a central axis of an antenna trace, 
 wherein the high-band portion includes a left high-band arm having a left length and a right high-band arm having a right length, the left high-band arm and the right high-band arm being asymmetrical about the central axis of the antenna trace such that the right length of the right high-band arm is not substantially equal to the left length of the left high-band arm, and 
 wherein a left-side conductive area of the antenna trace is substantially equal to a right-side conductive area of the antenna trace. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising radially positioning the antenna about the meter housing and electrical components such that the left high-band arm is adjacent the low electrical component density area and the right high-band arm is adjacent the high electrical component density area. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the left low-band arm and the right low-band arm are substantially the same such that the low-band portion is substantially symmetrical about a central axis of the antenna trace. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4 , wherein vertically positioning the antenna further includes positioning the antenna such that the portion of the low-band portion located above the plane comprises the entire low-band portion. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 4 , wherein vertically positioning the antenna further includes positioning the antenna such that the portion of the high-band portion located below the plane formed comprises the entire high-band portion. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 4 , wherein a top of the meter housing is coplanar with the plane above the distributed electrical components.